Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3208 (Paper) ISSN 2225-093X (Online) Vol.10, No.8, 2020 Review on Potential of Reproductive Technology to Improved Ruminant Production in Ethiopia Jalel Fikadu Yadeta Assosa University, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Department of animal science, Assosa, Ethiopia DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-8-02 Publication date: April 30 th 2020 INTRODUCTION Reproductive technology encompasses all current and anticipated uses of technology in human and animal reproduction, including assisted reproductive technology, contraception and others (Mapletoft and Hasler, 2005). Research into physiology and embryology has provided a basis for the development of technologies that increase productivity of farm animals through enhanced control of reproductive function. Animal Biotechnology represents an expanding collection of rapidly developing disciplines in science and information technologies. The livestock provides many opportunities to utilize these disciplines and evolving competencies. Individually, these are powerful tools capable of providing significant improvements in productivity. Combinations of these technologies coupled with information systems and data analysis will provide even more significant changes in the next decade. Various techniques have been developed and refined to obtain a large number of offspring from genetically superior animals or obtain offspring from infertile (or sub fertile) animals (Naqvi et al ., 2001; Blackburn, 2004). Based on the progress in scientific knowledge of endocrinology, reproductive physiology, cell biology and embryology during the last fifty years new bio techniques have been developed for and introduced into animal breeding and husbandry (Wrathall et al., 2004). Among them are estrus synchronization/induction, artificial insemination, Multiple Ovulation Induction and Embryo Transfer (MOET), in vitro embryo production (IVP) and cloning by Nuclear Transfer (NT) all are components of the tool box for present and future applications (Betteridge, 2003). Techniques are now available to get genetically improved farm animals in large numbers. This involves collection of the fertilized egg from genetically superior female which ovulate spontaneously or are induced to super ovulate (Wolf et al., 2000). The current efficiency for producing transgenic animals particularly farm animals, is low and the cost is high. Success in the production of transgenic farm animals requires an adequate animal facility and dedicated teams of embryologists, veterinarians, animal scientists and molecular biologists. Ethiopia has over 57.83 million indigenous cattle, and about 13.5million are breeder cows and 28.89 million sheep out of which about 14 Million are kept for breeder and 29.7 million goats out of this 12.6 million are kept for breeder (CSA, 2015/16). Average milk production from local cows is also low, estimated at 1.37 liters/cow per day (CSA, 2014). This result in a total annual milk production of 3.81 billion liters and about 50% of this goes to calves Per capita milk consumption is low and stands at 19 kg/year FAO (2011). Therefore, Ethiopia needs to work hard on improving the work of productive and reproductive performance improvements of cattle through appropriate breeding and related activities (CSA, 2006). In spite, of the presence of large and diverse animal genetic resources, the productivity (meat and milk) of livestock remains low in many developing countries including Ethiopia for various reasons, such as inadequate nutrition, poor genetic potential, inadequate animal health services and other management related problems (Lobago, 2007). Cattle breeding are mostly uncontrolled in Ethiopia making genetic improvement difficult and an appropriate bull selection criteria have not yet been established applied and controlled which makes genetic improvement difficult (Webb,2003; Abraham ,2014). Given the considerable potential for smallholder income and employment generation from high-value dairy products, development of the dairy sector can contribute significantly to food security and nutrition of the country (Desalegn et al., 2009). On the other hand, artificial insemination (AI), the most commonly used and valuable biotechnology has been in operation in Ethiopia for over 30 years. Nevertheless, the efficiency and impact of the AI operation has not been well-documented (Engida, 2012). This paper is review status of reproductive technology to improved ruminant production in Ethiopia. LITERATURE REVIEW Productive and Reproductive Performance of Dairy Cattle in Ethiopia Ethiopia have huge population of cattle thus, results obtained indicated that 98.95 percent of the total cattle in the country are local breeds. The remaining are hybrid and exotic breeds that accounted for about 0.94 percent and 0.11 percent, respectively (CSA, 2013). In spite of that the total number of both exotic and hybrid female cattle produced through the crossbreeding work for many decades in the country is quite insignificant indicating unsuccessful cross breeding work. This again suggests that Ethiopia needs to work hard on improving the work of 10 Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare www.iiste.org ISSN 2224-3208 (Paper) ISSN 2225-093X (Online) Vol.10, No.8, 2020 productive and reproductive performance improvements of cattle through appropriate breeding and related activities (CSA, 2013). The average lactation yield of indigenous cattle breeds ranges between 400 to 680 kg, have been reported whereas those of the crossbred cows range between 1200 to 2500 liters of milk over a lactation period of 279 days Belete et al . (2010). According to (Mekonen et al ., 2012) Cattle have a significant contribution to the livelihoods of the farmers. They serve as a source of draught power for the agrarian population, by contributing towards the supply of milk, meat, manure besides being a source of ready cash, cattle also contribute significantly role to the socio-cultural values of the society. Appropriate breeding by using reproductive technology has great improvement on average lactation yield of dairy cattle Belete et al. (2010). Constraints of Production System in Ethiopia The constraints include subsistence-oriented production system, lack of awareness of improved livestock production system (by farmers, pastoralists/agro-pastoralists, professional and policy and decision-makers), feed resources, animal diseases and markets (Lobago, 2007; Azage et al., 2016). The burden of this huge livestock resource is also compromised by the poor reproductive performance, less use of reproductive technology with an annual calving rate of about 45%. Out of this huge number of breeder cows, the annual number of calves born is only about 5.04 million. The remaining 6.16 million cows have to be fed and managed without producing either milk or calves. Again, about 15% of the calves die before attaining weaning age. This is a loss of about 756,000 calves every year. This huge reproductive wastage and pre-weaning calf losses could be averted through improved fertility management and reduced calf morality (Azage et al., 2016). Purposes of Using Reproductive Technology The main objectives of using reproductive biotechnologies in livestock are to increase production, reproductive efficiency and rates of genetic improvement or these reproductive technologies were initially to speed up the genetic improvements of farm animals by the increase of offspring of selected males and females and the reduction of the generation intervals. Types of Reproductive Technology Artificial insemination This technology has now become a practical technology in commercial dairy cattle programs in both developed and developmental countries. Artificial insemination (AI) is the process of collecting sperm cells from a genetically superior male animal and manually depositing them into the reproductive tract of a female. The first successful insemination was performed by Spallanzani, (1784) in a bitch. Pioneering efforts to AI were begun in Russia in 1899 by Ivanoff Ivanoff (1922) had studied AI in domestic farm animals, dogs, foxes, rabbits, and poultry. Later on, this technique was performed by various researchers worldwide in different species. Use of frozen semen (Polge et al., 1949) revolutionized the AI program through worldwide transport of semen. Initially, the AI was used to spread improved indigenous breeds which were followed by the introduction of crossbreeding, hence grade up the local low yielder breeds. The AI technology maximizes the use of outstanding males, dissemination of superior genetic material, improve the rate and efficiency of genetic selection on the male side, introduction of new genetic material by import of semen rather than live animals and thus, reducing the international transport costs, enabling the use of frozen semen even after the donor is dead and reduces the risk of spreading sexually transmitted diseases (Foote, 2002). Various aspects of AI technology have been globally standardized for each species. A large number of AIs are performed globally, more than 100 million cattle, 40 million pigs, 3.3 million sheep and 0.5 million goats are artificially inseminated every year (Boa-Amponsem and Minozzi, 2006). The conception rate from AI programs in developing countries is relatively low and therefore the desired goal from it has not been achieved, which may be due to the lack of proper management and poor technical skill. The AI will become more effective and economic